Spindle and spindle receptacle



April 17, 1934. J. K. DUNCAN El AL SPINDLE AND SPINDLE RECEPTACLE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1934. J. K. DUNCAN ET AL 1,955,489

SPINDLE AND SPINDLE RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 8, 1930 Q i W MU m9 NQ @Q 59m?Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPINDLE AND SPINDLERECEPTACLE Application October 8, 1930, Serial No. 487,226

2 Claims.

The invention relates to duplicating machines of the type employing acopying band or matrix, on which a master sheet is first impressed andfrom which copies to the desired number are I taken, and has referencemore particularly to a novel form of spindle and receptacle forreceiving the spindle to provide means upon which the gelatine band iswound.

The above type of machine commonly known as hektograph machines includesa plurality of spaced side frames having secured thereto a flat platenover which is stretched the gelatine band. The band is wound uponspindles journaled in the frame at each end of the platen and thepresent invention is primarily concerned with the provision ofreceptacles designed to receive the spindle ends. It is therefore anobject of the invention to provide spindles having novel shaped ends andreceptacles for receiving the same, the construction permitting thespindles to be inserted into the machine and removed therefrom with theminimum of time and effort.

A further object is to provide a combination of constructional form ofreceptacle as related to the spindle end, that when the latter isdirected towards the receptacle, engagement will take placeautomatically without any definite aligning of the parts by theoperator, a more specific object residing in the formation given to theengaging parts which function to assist the operator in makinginterengagement, even if the same are brought into contact with eachother out of that rotative angular alignment necessary for correct andcomplete engagement.

A still further object is to provide a novel construction of spindle endand receptacle therefore which will enable the operator to insert orremove either spindle of the gelatine band using only one hand.

A further object is to provide a novel receptacle for the spindle endwhich, in addition to forming journaling means, will function to lockthe spindles in the frame against accidental removal.

A still further object is to provide a construction of the typedescribed which will be simple to manufacture, durable and which willnot easily get out of order.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device andwherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts-Figure 1 is a plan view, parts being shown in section of one end of aduplicating machine showing a spindle and supporting means for thespindle constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of one end of the spindle;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 1 and lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through line 4-4 of Figure 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the socket formation of one of thereceptacles;

Figure 6 is a plan view, parts being shown in section of a modified formof spindle and supporting construction;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the formation of one of thereceptacles;

Figure 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional view along line 99 of Figure 6; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view along line 1010 of Figure 6 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in connectionwith a conventional form of hektograph machine comprising side frames 10and 11, suitably spaced from each other and forming a support for theflat platen 12. Adapted to be stretched over the platen and supportedthereon is a gelatin band 13 which is wound upon spindles 14 suitablyjournaled in the side frame at each end of the platen. In the operationof the machine the gelatin band is unwound from one spindle and woundupon the other. For this operation suitable means is required forcausing rotation of the spindle in the desired direction and since thismechanism comprises no part of the present invention, it will bedescribed very briefly. The side frame 10 is provided with a gearhousing 15 within which is journaled a longitudinally extending shaft 16having an operating handle 17 secured to one end. Mounted upon the innersurface of side frame 10 at the location desired for supporting thespindle 14 is a face plate 18 provided with a central opening into whichis fitted a bushing 20. Mounted for rotation in the bushing 20 is ashaft 21 having a reduced end 22 to which is keyed a gear 23, by meansof the key 24. Rotation of shaft 16 by the operator thus functions toimpart rotation to shaft 21, since gear 23 has meshing engagement with acorresponding gear keyed to shaft 16.

Since it is necessary at times in the operation of the machine to allowspindle 14 to have rotation independent of shaft 16, the drive mechanismis provided with a clutch comprising a clutch housing 25 keyed to shaft22 and 'an internal clutch member 26 adapted to normally engage aplurality of rollers 2'7 which in turn project from the face of arotatably mounted disc 28. Shaft 16 is mounted for longitudinal movementin the housing 15 and thus in one position rotation of the same isimparted to gear 23 and shaft 21, the rotation being in that directionto cause disengagement of the clutch members allowing the shaft torotate. Upon reverse rotation of shaft 16 the clutch members will belocked and this locking of shaft 21 results in movement of shaft 16 in adirection to disengage the gears and cause engagement of similar gearsprovided at the opposite end of the machine for rotating the spindlejournaled in that end.

A feature of the present invention resides in the construction of thespindle 14 so that the same may be conveniently journaled in the sideframes and will have engagement with shaft 21 in a manner to preventrelative rotation. The spindle 14 at its ends is provided withprojecting studs 30 and 32, the studs having a Y formation resulting ina plurality of projections 31. In this particular modification the facesof the studs are provided with a cone shaped depression 33, locatedcentrally so as to be coaxial with the spindle. For allowing insertionof the spindle the side frame 11 is provided with guides 34 which form athroat adapted for directing and thus facilitating the engagement of thestud 32 with a pin 35. The mounting of pin 35 in side frame 11 isaccomplished by providing the frame with an opening 36 within which thepin is located. A bushing 37 closes the outer end of the opening andprovides a stop for the coil spring 38 which maintains the pin 35 in itsextreme inward position. To the outer end of pin 35 is suitably secureda knob 40 for engagement by the operator to withdraw the pin allowingdisengagement of the same with the spindle.

For journaling that end of the spindle provided with stud 30 a socket41, Figure 5, is formed in shaft 21 and is provided with a plurality ofribs 42, the construction resulting in a receptacle designed forreceiving a stud having a formation similar to stud 30, as shown inFigure 3. The insertion of stud 30 in the socket 41 results in theengagement of the projections 31 with the ribs 42 and thus preventsrotation of the parts relative to each other. By reference to Figure 5it is seen that the ribs 42 have a shape such that the socket 41 isgiven a flaring formation so that the insertion of stud 30 in the socketis materially facilitated and the interengagement of the ribs with theprojections occurs automatically without any definite aligning of theparts previously by the operator.

With the spindle constructed as above, the same is inserted into theside frames by first inserting the stud 30 into the socket 41 andlocating the stud 32 in the throat of frame 11 defined by guides 34. Itis then only necessary to urge the stud 32 into engagement with pin 35and upon suflicient force being exerted the pin will be caused by reasonof its cone shape to move towards the left, as shown in Figure 1,allowing the stud 32 to be located in position for pin 35 to engage theopening 33. The above procedure can be accomplished by the operator byusing one hand only, since a grasping of the gelatin roll and a locatingof the ends for engagement with their respective receptacles is all thatis necessary. Also, previous alignment of the spindie ends is notnecessary since the flaring opening 41 allows easy insertion of stud 30therein and the construction of the stud and of the opening is such thatinterengagement between the projections and ribs takes placeautomatically.

Referring to Figure 6 a modified form of spindle construction andreceptacles therefore is illustrated in connection with a conventionalform of duplicating machine similar to that shown in Figure 1, in whichframes 110 and 111 support a fiat platen 112. The spindle 114, havingthe gelatin band 113 wound thereon, is suitably sup ported for rotationwithin the frames by the construction to be described and is adapted tobe driven in the desired rotation through shaft 116, having a handle 11?secured thereto. The driving mechanism is located in housing 15 andincludes a shaft 121 having a reduced portion 122 to which is keyed agear 123. lutch construction formed by a clutch housing 125 and internalciutch member 126 serve to lock shaft 121 against rotation upon thedesired rotation being imparted to shaft 116 in the manner as describedin connection with the driving mechanism disclosed in Figure 1.

In the present modification the spindle 114 is provided with a stud 150consisting of a flattened member having a rounded point 151, Figure 10,integrally formed therewith, both ends of the spindle being formed withstuds of similar shape. The supporting of the spindle in the side framesis accomplished by suitable receptacles, to be now described.

The side frame 111 is provided with a posi- I15 tioning throat definedby guides 134 which directs the end of the spindle into contact with apin 152 mounted in opening 153 formed in the side frame. A bushing 154serves to close one end of the opening and also provides a mounting forthe pin 152. To prevent rotation of pin 152 the bushing is provided witha key 155 which engages within the longitudinal slot formed in the shaftof the pin. A knob 156 is suitably secured to the outer end of the shaftand serves to provide an operating handle so that the operator may graspthe same and withdraw the pin 152 against the tension of spring 157. Aslot 160 is provided in pin 152 and forms a passageway leading to theopening 161 formed centrally of the pin. The 136 end of shaft 121 isalso formed for engagement with the studs 150 in a manner to preventrelative rotation of the parts and consists in a plurality of slots 162,which are provided in the end of the shaft intersecting each other atsubstantially right angles together with a beveled opening 163 formedcentrally of the shaft. For facilitating the insertion of the flattenedstud 150 in the slots 162, beveled edges 164 are provided so that thewidth of the slot is materially increased.

The location of the spindles 114 within the side frame is accomplishedby first inserting one end of the spindle in opening 163 allowing theother end to engage the pin 152 by inserting the end in the throatprovided in side frame 111 defined by guides 134. A slight pressure uponthis end of the spindle will be suflicient to cause rearward movement ofpin 152 as the rounded end 151 will contact the beveled face of slot 160thus resulting in locating the rounded end in opening 161.

Thus this modification also results in easy insertion of the spindlewithin the side frames, since it is only necessary for the operator tolocate the rounded end 151 in opening 163 and the stud. 150 on theopposite end of the spindle within the guides 134. By means of thebeveled faces 164 location of the flattened stud within slots 162 ispractically automatic and occurs without any previous aligning by theoperator. Also the above procedure can be accomplished by the operatorby using one hand only, since a grasping of the gelatin roll and alocating of the ends for engagement with their respective receptacles isall that is necessary.

As further means for facilitating the insertion of the spindles in theside frames the face plate 18, Figure 1, and the face plate 118, Figure6, is provided with a rib 170. The rib 1'70 has a formation such that itdefines a horizontal channel, with an opening at the outer edge of theplate and terminating in the vicinity of the receptacles locatedcentrally of the plate. In the vicinity of these receptacles the ribs1'70 have their maximum height gradually decrease in height towards theouter edge of the plate. In locating the spindles within the side framesit has been found that engagement of the spindle end with itscorresponding receptacle does not always occur, especially if theprocedure is hurried, and for this reason the ribs 170 are provided,forming means for directing the end of the spindle towards thereceptacle and further prevent movement of the spindle end in adirection beyond the center of the plate.

It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited by the exactembodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture a spindle shaft, the ends of said shaftprovided with a stud formed into a plurality of projections giving tothe stud a Y formation, said stud having a cone shaped depression in itsface coaxial with the shaft.

2. In a duplicating machine including side frames, a spindle, the endsof said spindle being formed to provide a stud having radialprojections, means for mounting the spindle in the frames including amember rotatably mounted in one frame, a socket formed in the end of themember, and ribs in the socket flaring in a direction to increase theopening of the socket, said ribs engaging the projections when the studis inserted in the socket.

JAMES K. DUNCAN. RUDOLPH WEIDE.

